SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY: Lewis Buxton springs back

Paul Thompson
Sheffield Wednesday

SHEFFIELD Wednesday right back Lewis Buxton looks set to get the all-clear for Saturday’s match at Colchester.

It is a boost for the Owls after he had to stay off at half time of the 3-0 victory against Oldham because of a concern about his hamstring.

But the club are awaiting the results of a scan on Reda Johnson, who missed the Easter Monday clash after going off early in last Saturday’s 2-0 win at Huddersfield with a thigh injury.

Manager Dave Jones believes that the decision not to risk Buxton for the second half has turned out to be a wise one.

He said: “It looks as if Lewis should be ok. Rather than leave him on, we made the decision to bring him off. which looks to have been a good decision.”

Physio Paul Smith added: “If Lewis had gone out for the second half there was a chance of him tearing it and that would have been him finished. It was a touch-and-go decision; we feel we made the right one.

“After a couple of days he’s feeling a lot better; hopefully we’ll ease him back in and by the end of this week he’ll be ok.”

Wednesday will know more about Johnson when the results of his tests are known. The Easter holiday break meant that he could not be scanned until yesterday.

If he is still out then Julian Bennett looks set to continue - having replaced him on Monday but been switched to right back for the second half owing to Buxton’s withdrawal. The Owls arguably have better cover at left back than at right back.

Bennett is always the natural replacement for Johnson, and Mark Beevers, though primarily a centre half, has done a sound job at left back as a sub in both of the Easter games.

Jones said: “I think Mark has done really well. If you can play, you might not be the best in a certain position, but you’ll be good in that position. Well done to him.”

The Owls manager always takes the view that misfortune for one player means an opportunity for another.

He made his debut for Everton on his 17th birthday after a colleague was injured. “I could play anywhere along the back four but I actually made my debut at left back,” he said.